MOSS: A Flexible Office Concept For Backyards

Working from places other than the good ol’ office building has taken a big leap over the last decades. New York-based designer Victor Vetterlein came up with these conceptual backyard office units that allow people to work from home.

Technological innovations have changed the way people work, live together and deal with time and space. Many types of labor have become flexible and independent from place, which resulted in increasing numbers of people that work from home or third places. Vetterlein’s flexible MOSS concept, which stands for ‘Micro Office Systems Space’, is a “self-contained auxiliary office unit” that can be leased or bought by companies to be set up in backyards of employees who want to work from home.

The prefabricated micro offices offer employees a direct visual, audio, and data link to the main office and also a professional environment to hold small business meetings. “The user of MOSS feels a good separation from home and work life while not having to commute to the office.” The 4-meter long basic units don’t include running water or a toilet, but these functions can be added if desired. Electricity is generated by solar panels on the roof, while energy-efficient underfloor heating and a wood stove provide warmth.

Crowd-funding has become extremely popular over the last years. Lots of cultural, artistic and design initiatives have already been made possible thanks to platforms like Kickstarter. But will this work for urbanism too? Yes, it does! The idea of paying together for those things we really like, starts to win popularity in the urban profession in 2012. The first crowd-funded urban projects have been realized in cities around the United States and also in the Netherlands we have encountered some great examples. In these times of financial crisis with a lack of confidence in financial institutions and governments, this kind of funding will gain importance in urbanism. Urbanism will be paid by the crowds, which will mean that the crowds will be having influence as well.

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